Marriages in China plunged by a fifth in 2024, marking the largest drop on record, despite ongoing efforts by authorities to encourage young couples to marry and have children to address the country’s shrinking population.
The declining interest in marriage and family life is often attributed to the high costs of childcare and education, along with sluggish economic growth in recent years. This economic downturn has made it harder for university graduates to find jobs, and many employed individuals are insecure about their long-term job stability.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, over 6.1 million couples registered for marriage last year, down from 7.68 million in 2023.
“This is unprecedented! Even in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the decline in marriages was only 12.2%,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He pointed out that the number of marriages last year was less than half of the 13.47 million registered in 2013.
“If this trend continues, China’s political and economic ambitions could be undermined by its demographic challenges,” he warned.
For Chinese authorities, reversing the decline in marriages and boosting birth rates are urgent priorities. With a population of 1.4 billion, China is aging rapidly. The country’s birth rate has been falling for decades, particularly due to the one-child policy (1980-2015) and rapid urbanization. Over the next decade, roughly 300 million Chinese citizens are expected to retire—almost the entire population of the United States.
In response, the government has implemented measures, including urging universities to introduce “love education” to promote positive views on marriage, family, and fertility. In November, the State Council instructed local governments to allocate resources to address the population crisis and promote marriage and childbearing at the appropriate age.
While there was a slight increase in births, largely attributed to the 2024 Chinese zodiac year of the dragon—a year traditionally considered auspicious for births—the country’s population declined for the third consecutive year.
Additionally, more than 2.6 million couples filed for divorce in 2024, marking a 1.1% increase from 2023.
